In fact, a study of the earliest secessionists documents shows, when they bother to give reasons at all, their only major concern was to protect the institution of slavery. For example, four seceding states issued "Declarations of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify Secession from the Federal Union". These documents use words like "slavery" and "institution" over 100 times, words like "tax" and "tariff" only once (re: a tax on slaves), "usurpation" once (re: slavery in territories), "oppression" once (re: potential future restrictions on slavery).

So secession wasn't just all about slavery, it was only about slavery.

"Secession had something to do with 'Big Government' in Washington exceeding its Constitutional limits."

In fact, secessionists biggest real complaint was that Washington was not doing enough to enforce fugitive slave laws in Northern states. Mississippi's Declaration is instructive since it begins by explaining why slavery is so important:

"Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery -- the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization."

It goes on to complain that the Federal Government is not enforcing its own Fugitive Slave laws, saying that anti-slavery feeling:

"has nullified the Fugitive Slave Law in almost every free State in the Union..."

In fact, the Compromise of 1850 shifted responsibility for enforcing Fugitive Slave laws from northern states to the Federal Government, so this complaint amounts to a declaration that Washington is not powerful enough.

"A 'right of secession' is guaranteed by the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution."

In fact, no where in the Founders' literature is the 10th Amendment referenced as justifying unilateral, unapproved secession "at pleasure". Instead, secession (or "disunion") is always seen as a last resort, requiring mutual consent or material usurpations and oppression. For example, the Virginia Ratification Statement says:

"...the people of Virginia, declare and make known that the powers granted under the Constitution, being derived from the people of the United States may be resumed by them whensoever the same shall be perverted to their injury or oppression..."

James Madison explained it this way:

"It has been too much the case in expounding the Constitution of the U. S. that its meaning has been sought not in its peculiar and unprecedented modifications of Power; but by viewing it, some through the medium of a simple Govt. others thro' that of a mere League of Govts. It is neither the one nor the other; but essentially different from both....

"It is the nature & essence of a compact that it is equally obligatory on the parties to it, and of course that no one of them can be liberated therefrom without the consent of the others, or such a violation or abuse of it by the others, as will amount to a dissolution of the compact. Applying this view of the subject to a single community, it results, that the compact being between the individuals composing it, no individual or set of individuals can at pleasure, break off and set up for themselves, without such a violation of the compact as absolves them from its obligations."

"In 1860, Abraham Lincoln wanted to abolish slavery in the South."

In fact, the 1860 Republican platform only called for restricting slavery from territories where it did not already exist. And Lincoln repeatedly said he would not threaten slavery in states where it was already legal.

"Abraham Lincoln refused to allow slave-states to leave the Union in peace."

In fact, neither out-going President Buchanan nor incoming President Lincoln did anything to stop secessionists from declaring independence and forming a new Confederacy. And Buchanan did nothing to stop secessionists from unlawfully seizing Federal properties or threatening and shooting at Federal officials. Nor did Lincoln, until after the Confederacy started war at Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861) and then formally declared war on the United States, May 6, 1861.

"Lincoln started war by invading the South."

In fact, no Confederate soldier was killed by any Union force, and no Confederate state was "invaded" by any Union army until after secessionists started war at Fort Sumter and formally declared war on May 6, 1861. The first Confederate soldier was not killed directly in battle until June 10, 1861.

"The Confederacy did not threaten or attack the Union -- the South just wanted to be left alone."

In fact, from Day One, Confederacy was an assault on the United States, and did many things to provoke and start, then formally declared war on the United States.

From Day One secessionists began to unlawfully seize dozens of Federal properties (i.e., forts, armories, ships, arsenals, mints, etc.), often even before they formally declared secession. At the same time, they illegally threatened, imprisoned and fired on Federal officials -- for example, the ship Star of the West attempting to resupply Fort Sumter in January 1861 -- then launched a major assault to force Sumter's surrender, while offering military support for secessionist forces in a Union state (Missouri) . And all of that was before formally declaring war on the United States.

After declaring war, the Confederacy sent forces into every Union state near the Confederacy, and some well beyond. Invaded Union states & territories included:

Maryland

Pennsylvania

Ohio

Indiana

Kentucky

Missouri

Kansas

Oklahoma

New Mexico

Arizona

In addition, small Confederate forces operated in California, Colorado and even briefly invaded Vermont from Canada. You could also add an invasion of Illinois planned by Confederate President Davis in January 1862, but made impossible by US Grant's victories at Forts Henry and Donaldson.

In every state or territory outside the Confederacy proper, Confederate forces both "lived off the land" and attempted to "requisition" supplies to support Confederate forces at home.

Secessionists also assaulted the United states by claiming possession of several Union states and territories which had never, or could never, in any form vote to seceed. So bottom line: the Confederacy threatened every Union state and territory it could reach.

"The Union murdered, raped and pillaged civilians throughout the South."

In fact, there are remarkably few records of civilians murdered or raped by either side, certainly as compared to other wars in history. But "pillaging" is a different subject, and both sides did it -- at least to some degree. The Union army was generally self-sufficient, well supplied from its own rail-heads, and seldom in need to "live off the land." In four years of war, the best known exceptions are Grant at Vicksburg and Sherman's "march to the sea". In both cases, their actions were crucial to victory.

By contrast, Confederate armies were forced to "live off the land" both at home and abroad. Yes, inside the Confederacy itself, armies "paid" for their "requisitions" with nearly worthless money, but once they marched into Union states and territories, their money was absolutely worthless, and so regardless of what they called it, their "requisitions" were no better than pillaging. Perhaps the most famous example of Confederate pillaging, it's often said, cost RE Lee victory at the Battle of Gettysburg: while Lee's "eyes and ears" -- J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry -- was out pillaging desperately needed supplies in Maryland and Pennsylvania, Lee was partially blind to Union movements and strengths.

"There was no treason in anything the south did."

In fact, only one crime is defined in the US Constitution, and that is "treason". The Constitution's definition of "treason" could not be simpler and clearer:

"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort... The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason..."

The Constitution also provides for Federal actions against "rebellion", "insurrection", "domestic violence", "invasion" declared war and treason. So Pro-Confederate arguments that "there was no treason" depend first of all on the legality of secession. If their secession was lawful, then there was no "treason", except of course among those citizens of Union states (i.e., Maryland, Kentucky & Missouri) which "adhered to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort". But the bottom line is this: in previous cases -- i.e., the Whiskey Rebellion -- once rebellion was defeated, rebels were all released or pardoned by the President of the United States. And that pattern, first established by President Washington, was followed under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson.

"If you oppose slave-holders' secession declarations in 1860, then you're just another statist liberal."

In fact, lawful secession by mutual consent could be 100% constitutional, if representatives submitted and passed such a bill in Congress, signed by the President. Alternatively, states could bring suit in the United States Supreme Court for a material breach of contract and have the Federal government declared an "oppressive" or "usurping" power justifying secession.

But Deep-South slave-holders' unilateral, unapproved declarations of secession, without any material breach of contract issues, followed by insurrection and a declaration of war on the United States -- these our Founders clearly understood were acts of rebellion and treason -- which the Constitution was designed to defeat.

That leads to the larger question of whether our Pro-Confederates actually respect the Constitution as it was intended or, do they really wish for a return to those far looser, less binding -- you might even say, 1960s style "free love" marriage contract -- for which their union was named: the Articles of Confederation?

But consider: the Confederacy's constitution was basically a carbon copy of the US Constitution, emphasizing rights of holders of human "property". So there's no evidence that Confederate leaders were in any way more tolerant -- or "free love" advocates -- regarding secession from the Confederacy than any Union loyalist.

Then what, precisely, does the allegation of "statism" mean? The truth is, in this context, it's simply one more spurious insult, and means nothing more than, "I don't like you because you won't agree with me." Poor baby... ;-)

Plus, one "bonus" myth:

"Since Franklin Roosevelt is President Obama's political daddy, then Lincoln is Obama's political grandpa."

No, no, no way...

Yes, FDR could be the O-man's political daddy, and his political mother those 1960s radicals like, well, his mother.

And one of his grandparents is well known: his intellectual maternal grandpa is Karl Marx. But the other grandpa is certainly not Lincoln. Rather, it is Lincoln's evil doppelganger, the other tall thin President born in Kentucky: Jefferson Davis.

How can that be? Well, here's my list -- both Obama and Davis are/were:

Democrats

Like all Democrats, committed to using government power to benefit selected classes of voters, by laws requiring others to provide uncompensated services (Obama's taxes & regulations, Davis' slavery).

Pitted different groups of Americans against each other for their own political gain (whites vs blacks, rich vs poor & on & on, it never ends).

Cared nothing for the US Constitution, indeed wanted to rewrite it to insert "positive rights" (Obama's right to government provided free stuff, Davis' right to own human "property").

Yes, it's a stretch, but ominous: willing to wage war on American citizens (Obama's drones).

Whatever the reasons, there is no doubt that the formation of the Confederacy was once the greatest domestic threat to the well being of the United States. Today the greatest threat is the Democratic Party.

....actually I look toward the Declaration of Independence(no, you are right, it is not a current legal document) to determine the best way to protect the most important aspects of the Constitution and the Bill Of Rights.

no statement on secession is necessary in the constitution, if you have reached the point to reissue the Declaration of Independence.

MOLON LABE!!

14
posted on 03/10/2013 8:46:44 AM PDT
by Vaquero
(Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)

While we're used to getting a "bad rap" in the South, it really is quite old and tiresome.

You wouldn't know it by the "ignorant southerner" stereotypes hurled at us, but slavery was abolished close to 150 years ago, and--news flash to the slavery-obsessed!!--black people are actually free in the South, and they're treated quite well here.

16
posted on 03/10/2013 8:46:49 AM PDT
by WXRGina
(The Founding Fathers would be shooting by now.)

Whatever the reasons, there is no doubt that the formation of the Confederacy was once the greatest domestic threat to the well being of the United States. Today the greatest threat is the Democratic Party.

I like it...

18
posted on 03/10/2013 8:49:46 AM PDT
by Vaquero
(Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)

I think the bigger hit came in the progressive era of the 1910’s when senator selection was modified (yes by amendment but it lessened state power) and the tax amendment which reached into the states to the individual as well (I think prior the feds had to rely on the states largesse more). The final straw came with the interstate commerce case in the 1930s when the supremes overstepped in order to placate FDR.

22
posted on 03/10/2013 8:53:02 AM PDT
by reed13k
(For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.)

It is silly to refight a bloody war when we are facing the biggest threat to the survival of the nation. Obozo and his band of Marxists are that threat.

One of my ancestors was born in TX during the Republic. Others came to Texas because they were burned out of AL during Reconstruction for resisting abuse of Federal occupation. They voted with their feet and went GTT (Gone to Texas).

Sam Houston refused to take Texas out of the Union during the Civil War and was reidiculed for doing so.

But if you think that blink obediance to the current Rogue Federal Government is the solution, YOU ARE WRONG.

Do you own guns? We do. And they have a purpose higher than for hunting.

That is the ironic truth. Many African-Americans are shunning Northern urban areas and there has been a well documented “reverse migration” return to the South. Also wasn’t too long ago that Northern blacks referred to the South as “back home.” Politically correct tales serve agendas, but rarely correlate with reality.

In this “list”, I don’t see where the UNFAIR TARIFFS or the opening of the flood gates to immigrants in the 1830’s were mentioned.

Oh, they were DISCONNECTED from the issue, right?

I think not. Northern industries found out that immigrants were cheaper than slaves, so they opened up the flood gates and let bunches in. You could pay them pennies a day and let THEM feed themselves, cloth themselves, house themselves, etc.etc.

But only after they loaded your “16 Tons.”

30
posted on 03/10/2013 9:01:11 AM PDT
by ConradofMontferrat
(According to mudslymz, my handle is a HATE CRIME. And I HOPE they don't like it.)

In fact, neither out-going President Buchanan nor incoming President Lincoln did anything to stop secessionists from declaring independence and forming a new Confederacy. And Buchanan did nothing to stop secessionists from unlawfully seizing Federal properties or threatening and shooting at Federal officials. Nor did Lincoln, until after the Confederacy started war at Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861) and then formally declared war on the United States, May 6, 1861.

Moronic on its face. How does the Union "do nothing to stop independence" and yet still lay claim to military forts in South Carolina, and defend them with soldiers, months after South Carolina declared independence? This alone shows the list to be farcical at best.

31
posted on 03/10/2013 9:02:13 AM PDT
by Teacher317
('Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss.)

We are all slaves of the federal apparatus now
Honest Apes legacy is all around us
Cant wait to see it come crashing down
The 2nd American Republic will not allow universal suffrage and exclude territories occupied by marxists and large cities comprised of parasites

34
posted on 03/10/2013 9:04:11 AM PDT
by Rome2000
(THE WASHINGTONIANS AND UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE ARE THE ENEMY -ROTATE THE CAPITAL AMONGST THE STATES)

Well, let’s not get wrapped up in a blanket of Yankee self-righteousness. We should remember that slavery existed in the North as well as in the South, and that there was still a small number of slaves in New Jersey as late as 1860.

You have to wonder why Yankees hold the South in such comtempt, yet continue to flood down here like locusts, bringing their destructive liberal ways with them and stripping the stores and delis of pastrami.

Oh, well. Southerners will do what we always do when confronted with Yankees who think they know it all. We’ll laugh at you and make fun of you behind your backs.

35
posted on 03/10/2013 9:05:12 AM PDT
by CatherineofAragon
(Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization)

when the civil war(war between the states, war of northern aggression,etc) was going on, my forebears were either bending spaghetti or boiling potatoes...so I had no horse in that race.

suffice it to say(very simply) ....Slavery Bad....States Rights Good.

I vacillate between whether or not the 1861-1865 debacle was necessary or not. But I know one thing. the current regime is a threat to the Constitution and America.... and it most be blocked or stopped or overcome in whatever way necessary. those who can not see that at this time are either blind, stupid, or brainwashed.

hopefully we can do this by blocking the POS in the whitehouse at every turn, and not resort to a less peaceful method.

36
posted on 03/10/2013 9:05:16 AM PDT
by Vaquero
(Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)

No one, including the author from what I can tell, is asserting that the Union "do nothing to stop independence" after the illegal secession. It was Lincoln's hope that cooler heads would prevail and the errant states return to the fold.

The fire-eaters however had only war on their minds.

Why wouldn't the Union defend those forts, etc? After all they were the property of the federal US government.

41
posted on 03/10/2013 9:10:46 AM PDT
by rockrr
(Everything is different now...)

Because The U.S. did not recognize the independence of S. Carolina and thus had no obligation to just leave federal forts. Yeah, some group met in Charleston and just said “see ya”, but that is not “independence” no more than what happened in Philadelphia in 1776.

The feds did not stop these people from declaring whatever they wanted. But it didn’t mean they had to play along.

Hugo Chavez was a great humanitarian and saviour of the Venezuelan people. He died leaving a country that was greatly equalized with opportunity for all.

IF you want to know the truth about something—NEVER ask a twit professor of scatology masquerading as history. The people who actually were there, their families, the stakeholders.

Let’s take the logical conclusions from these “results”, and fast forward into the 1900’s and to today. You have buttinsky Progressive BS from the get go. And obamaumao is Abe Lincoln. Got news— he suuuure is. Statists of the World, Unite.

I generally agree with the thrust and tone of this post, but as far as pillaging goes, even Lee’s worst critics admit his army never caused any unnecessary harm or damage and never took more than they could use. They were driven by necessity, not wantonness. Sherman intended to inflict harm and damage to bring the Confederacy to its knees. The Confederate armies avoided contact with the Union forces as much as possible after Gettysburg, they were trying to wear down resolve in the North. Sherman and Grant’s strategy was to force the Confederate armies to confront them or face ruin. In the end they got both.

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